Dwarf Lion safe with Tang?

[Jvesche20]

I'm looking to get a dwarf lion to put in my 25G frag tank. I have sps growing, and an assorted tang. Not sure the exact kind of tang but when I bought him 2 months ago he was yellow and he turned black. He's only 2 inches long and my lfs said he wouldn't get much bigger, would this be an issue if I got a dwarf lion? Also, would a lion be fine in a high flow tank?

 

[Poseidon03]

Pictures would help... If it is only going to be 2in, I'd put my money on it not being a tang!

 

[Jvesche20]

Lfs said it was an assorted tang. They had no idea what kind it is that’s what it’s called when they purchase. Here’s a pic

The yellow pic is when I first got him.

 

[Breadman03]

That looks like a purple tang, Zebrasome xanthurum, or a kole tang, Ctenochaetus strigosus. It is hard to tell with your pics, but pay attention to their mouth shape to see which it is. Though it could be a different species, any will outgrow a 25 gallon fairly quickly.

Here is a pretty good place for fish research:
https://www.liveaquaria.com/category/43/tangs-surgeons?c=15+43&r=

 

[Poseidon03]

Idk too much about lionfish, but just to let you know, that tang will not stay that size, unfortunately. All tangs grow pretty large.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

That looks like a Kole Tang. Mine looked just like that when I got him. Those guys get up to 7+ inches and need at a minimum 70 gallons with plenty of rock work for grazing as well as open areas to swim. As for compatibility with the fuzzy dwarf, as long as the tang is too large to fit in his mouth then he'll be fine. Fuzzy dwarfs get up to 7" as well, and are largely ambush predators that hunt at night. As long as you keep him fed with a small army of salt water ghost shrimp or put some minnows in there for him to hunt, he should leave the tang alone. I have a pair of clowns with mine (5" long) that are 2/3 his size and he completely ignores them.

 

[Jvesche20]

That looks like a purple tang, Zebrasome xanthurum, or a kole tang, Ctenochaetus strigosus. It is hard to tell with your pics, but pay attention to their mouth shape to see which it is. Though it could be a different species, any will outgrow a 25 gallon fairly quickly.

Here is a pretty good place for fish research:
https://www.liveaquaria.com/category/43/tangs-surgeons?c=15+43&r=

I kinda figured it would outgrow 25G I just have him in there to help keep algae down. I have a 125G that I’ll throw him into when he gets bigger. My lfs has 2 that are over a year old and are only 3 inches. The fish looks exactly like mine. It seems to have the shape of a chevron but it doesn’t have the color. I have a purple tang and the purple seems to have larger fins than this tang.

That looks like a Kole Tang. Mine looked just like that when I got him. Those guys get up to 7+ inches and need at a minimum 70 gallons with plenty of rock work for grazing as well as open areas to swim. As for compatibility with the fuzzy dwarf, as long as the tang is too large to fit in his mouth then he'll be fine. Fuzzy dwarfs get up to 7" as well, and are largely ambush predators that hunt at night. As long as you keep him fed with a small army of salt water ghost shrimp or put some minnows in there for him to hunt, he should leave the tang alone. I have a pair of clowns with mine (5" long) that are 2/3 his size and he completely ignores them.

Only things different about this and a kole tang is there’s no yellow around it’s eye

One of the workers said it’s some type of bristle tooth tang but the others had no idea.

 

[Jvesche20]

I’m trying to get some more pics but he gets scared every time I get close to the tank

Forgot to ask can you feed them frozen food? I know you said you feed them minnows

 

[Oshengems]

Lionfish don’t have much issues with other fish only fish they will have problems with are the ones that could fit in their mouths the same goes for inverts like shrimps crabs etc but I do have 2 fuzzy dwarfs in my 75g with a bloody shrimp and then frankly don’t care for him, I see the larger one stalking my six line wrasse but I don’t think he will fit in his mouth

 

[Jvesche20]

Here’s some pics from my lfs. Hard to tell but I’ll take more when I get home.

 

[Jvesche20]

Lionfish don’t have much issues with other fish only fish they will have problems with are the ones that could fit in their mouths the same goes for inverts like shrimps crabs etc but I do have 2 fuzzy dwarfs in my 75g with a bloody shrimp and then frankly don’t care for him, I see the larger one stalking my six line wrasse but I don’t think he will fit in his mouth

Awesome how big is your lion?

 

[Jvesche20]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-id.536858/#post-5562051
I had this post but the fish that were suggested didn’t seem to fit the fish that I have

 

[Oshengems]

Fuzzys stay small the 2 I have are less than 2 inches

 

[Jvesche20]

Fuzzys stay small the 2 I have are less than 2 inches

What do you feed your fuzzys?

 

[Oshengems]

I have frozen silversides and shrimps from my local seafood spot, also have frozen brine shrimp but been rarely feeding those I feed them every 2 days sometimes 3 sometimes back to back days, you have to teach them to eat dead food but once they learn it’s food anything fleshy you toss they will gulp up

 

[lion king]

That does look like some sort of bristletooth tang, as you know and others have stated he will outgrow that tank, but you also have that taken care of. Fuzzy lions will get to 7" and also need alot more space than a 25g, sadly they are misunderstood and are frequently victims of bad advice. They are very active when given the space to roam.

 

[Jvesche20]

That does look like some sort of bristletooth tang, as you know and others have stated he will outgrow that tank, but you also have that taken care of. Fuzzy lions will get to 7" and also need alot more space than a 25g, sadly they are misunderstood and are frequently victims of bad advice. They are very active when given the space to roam.

Didnt know I needed more. I have a 125G but I’m scared he might not get a long with my tank mates. I have a purple tang, BPT, 3 chromis, 4 clowns, sail fin tang, fox face, snowflake eel, scooter blenny, lawnmower blenny, and 2 cleaner shrimp. How big of a tank do they need? What would the difference in tank sizes be for a regular vs a dwarf? I just figured dwarf so it doesn’t try and kill my fish

 

[Jvesche20]

I have frozen silversides and shrimps from my local seafood spot, also have frozen brine shrimp but been rarely feeding those I feed them every 2 days sometimes 3 sometimes back to back days, you have to teach them to eat dead food but once they learn it’s food anything fleshy you toss they will gulp up

Is it easy to teach them? How did you teach your fuzzy?

 

[Breadman03]

Only things different about this and a kole tang is there’s no yellow around it’s eye

One of the workers said it’s some type of bristle tooth tang but the others had no idea.

Look up a blue eyed kole and you might have it.

 

[Jvesche20]

Look up a blue eyed kole and you might have it.

I think that’s the one. I couldn’t find any picturesque of a blue eye that’s also very dark like mine but here’s some similar pictures. This is what my fish looks like minus the yellow eye!